News

Diocesan News for Toledo

Bishop Thomas pledges a father's love to Toledo

October 22, 2014 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle) In his first public appearance since moving to Toledo, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas promised to love the people of the Diocese of Toledo as a father loves his children and asked for prayers in helping him to live out that mission.

Hundreds of people —bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women and laypeople — gathered at Toledo Rosary Cathedral as Bishop Thomas led an Evening Prayer Service Oct. 21, the eve of his installation as the Diocese of Toledo’s eighth bishop.

The tone of the service was reflective as the majority of the evening consisted of sung psalms and hymns. Marsha Rivas, interim leader for the Evangelization and Parish Life Secretariat, offered a reading from I Jn 3: 1a, 2 and prayers were offered for the government, Bishop Thomas, freedom, young people, children and the departed.Find out more about Bishop Daniel Thomas' Installation >

The appointment was publicized in Washington, August 26 by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop Thomas was born June 11, 1959 in Manayunk, Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor of arts degree and a master of arts degree from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, and a licentiate of sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1985 and appointed auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia in 2006.Find out more about Bishop Daniel Thomas >

Catholics gear up for marches at hone, in Washington

Jan. 12, 2014 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle) Catholics in the Diocese of Toledo are planning trips to Washington, D.C., and organizing local observances to mark the 41st anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Several groups have organized bus trips to the national rally and March for Life to the Supreme Court, which is Jan. 22. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life supporters gather in Washington annually for the peaceful demonstration.Read more about the March for Life >

Diocese launches marriage prep program

January 3, 2014 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle) It's no secret that the more time you devote to thinking through things before you act, the better the outcome.

This is never truer than in marriage. If you're spending the rest of your life with someone, shouldn't you do a little prep work?

"Engaged couples want a strong, healthy marriage but they don't have a plan to get there," says Monica Martinez, director of the marriage and family life office for the Diocese of Toledo. "The challenge is having marriages that stay together, marriages that are centered on Christ." Discover more about the marriage prep program >

Fr. Charles Ritter elected diocesan administrator

December 20, 2013 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle) Father Charles Ritter, associate pastor of Sylvania St. Joseph, has been elected diocesan administrator. The administrator oversees diocesan operations until a new bishop is appointed.

During a press conference Dec. 19 announcing the election, Fr. Ritter said his role as administrator is to basically keep things running until a new bishop is appointed. He further explained the Code of Canon Law spells out what an administrator is not to do: “while the see is vacant, there is to be no innovation. So great, wonderful new ideas, programs, directions: none.”Find out more about the new administrator >

God does not disappoint

December 6, 2013 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle/Bishop Leonard P. Blair) Ten years represent a good part of anyone’s life. That’s how long I’ve been your bishop. In some ways it seems like just yesterday that I arrived in Toledo from my hometown of Detroit. In other ways, it seems like long ago, and a lot of water, as they say, has passed under the bridge.

In preparing to write this final article before I take up my new ministry as Archbishop of Hartford, I looked back at my first article in the Chronicle, which appeared in January of 2004. The theme was hope, inspired by Blessed Pope John Paul’s New Year’s message that year. Here, in part, is what I wrote back thenRead Bishop Blair's Article in the Catholic Chronicle >

Bishop Blair's Letter to the Diocese

October 28, 2013 – Bishop Blair (Diocese of Toledo) - This is a hard letter for me to write, because it is the announcement that after almost ten years as your Bishop, Pope Francis has seen fit to appointment me the Archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut, upon the retirement of the current Archbishop, the Most Reverend Henry Mansell. The announcement date is Tuesday, October 29, and my new appointment will take affect on Monday, December 16, the date of my installation in Hartford.Read more of Bishop Blair's new Assignment >

Knights of Columbus Welcome Archbishop Leonard Blair to Hartford

October 29, 2013 – Hartford (Knights of Columbus) - “As an organization headquartered in the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Knights of Columbus is pleased to welcome our new Archbishop – His Excellency Leonard Blair. Throughout his time in Michigan, at the Vatican and most recently in Ohio, our Archbishop-designate has shown himself to be a quintessential pastor and shepherd. We thank Pope Francis for this outstanding appointment and stand ready to assist our new Archbishop in whatever ways we can. As our brother Knight for more than 19 years, we hope he will find in this appointment something of a homecoming.”Check out the Knights of Columbus Website >

New Blog Site is Forum for Catholic Men

Aug. 19, 2013 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle) - A new blog site geared toward Catholic men has been initiated and is located at catholicmentoledo.wordpress.com.

The site is the personal work of Tadhg Farrell, coordinator of the Catholic Men's Fellowship Program, under the Diocese of Toledo Secretariat of Evangelization and Parish Life. Read More about this new men's blog >

Faith and Worship

Aug. 2, 2013 – Toledo (Catholic Chronicle/Bishop Blair) - In my last reflection for the Year of Faith, I spoke of the creed as the first of the four “pillars” of faith to be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Now I would like to say something about the second “pillar,” namely, what we Christians call liturgy, the celebration of the sacraments. If we believe our creed to be true, then we are led to worship in the liturgy. The one flows into the other.

So the second “pillar” (Part Two) of the Catechism is titled, “The Celebration of the Christian Mystery.” This title gives us an important indication of what true worship is. The dictionary says that worship is “the reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power.” Read more about Liturgy >